Saturday, September 22, 2007

CNews: Russian OS to be installed in every school: "Experts and market participants believe the terms stated by the Ministry of Communication are quite real. “Software distributives, developed on the basis of Linux and tested within 2007-2008 might actually be installed in schools by 2009 end”, "

So, throughout every school in Russia, they are trashing Microsoft Windows. Bang. Gone. Nuked.

In comes open source software with a Linux kernel.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is thinking about opening a new science and technology school and there wasn't a peep about open source software in the presentation. Nothing about software engineering.

The proposed Science and Technology Public High School should be devoted to the deployment of free and open source software and nothing else.

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

Russian OS to be installed in every school

September 14, 2007, Moscow

Russian OS is to be installed on every school computer in Russia by 2009. Furthermore, every pupil will get the opportunity to operate the applied software produced in Russia, Leonid Reiman, acting Minister of Communication stated at a press conference. Experts and market participants consider the terms within which software is to be developed quite reasonable. According to Mr. Reiman, that might significantly reduce Russian dependence on foreign software.Leonid Reiman, RF acting Minister of Communication states Russian OS and application program package development is of vital importance, as that might significantly reduce dependence of Russia on foreign software. “In 2008 Russian software is to be tested in three pilot regions, i.e. Tomsk region, Perm Regions and Republic of Tatarstan. While by 2009 domestic software is to be installed on every school computer”, - Leonid Reiman says.

The Ministry of Communication Press Service explains the Ministry plans to install Russian OS and alternative program package in every Russian school. The dates to carry out tenders for OS development have not been announced yet, but the tenders are to be held in the near future, the Ministry of Communication informs.

The Ministry of Communication tells CNews application software package development is to be carried out at the expense of both porting the existing products to local platforms, and developing new or working off the existing open-source application programs. The main aim of the given work is to reduce dependence on foreign commercial software and provide education institutions with the possibility to choose whether to pay for commercial items or to use the software, provided by the government.

Experts and market participants believe the terms stated by the Ministry of Communication are quite real. “Software distributives, developed on the basis of Linux and tested within 2007-2008 might actually be installed in schools by 2009 end”, - Sergey Shalmanov, CNews Analytics Analyst believes. Besides, he notes “the historically existing model to use software in education in Russia is sure to fail. It has already lost some of its advantages because of widely spread illegal practically free Miscrosoft software. The existing practice to install Windows software on school computers is not profitable both economically, because of discounts for client license, and strategically as it initially ties a young user to the platform and products of one company, although very popular and convenient in operation”.

Russian pupils are to use domestic open source OS in 2009Russian pupils are to use domestic open source OS in 2009

Alexey Smirnov, Director General of the Company ALTLinux which has already announced its desire to put in a bid for the tender to develop alternative software package considers the given terms reasonable. “The question is not to start working from the ground, as OS is to be designed on the basis of the already existing developments, that is why the developers are simply to adjust the given OS to school conditions. Thus, the given work might be finished by the end of the year. Consequently, in 2008 the developed product is to be tested, the revealed shortcomings are to be eliminated. So in 2009 it might be launched into mass production”. As for the application software package it might be developed, according to Mr. Smirnoff, either on the basis of the already existing open source products, or Russian developers might port their products to new platforms.

Alexey Novodvorsky, ALTLinux Deputy Director General confirms the terms are real, noting they are rather tense as to install the open-source software in schools “it is not enough to develop the software, or to install and support it. A national infrastructure for development, overall support and information is to be created. Cooperation with the central and regional authorities, education institutions is of vital importance. And, finally, the open-source software community is to be supported”. Finally, Mr. Novodvorsky states “we have all the necessary compounds to achieve success, but they are to be expanded”.

It should be noted in July, 2007 Dmitr y Medvedev, the first Deputy of the RF Head of Government approved of the Ministry of Communication initiative to develop the domestic software package for education institutions, based on the open-source software. The Russian Linux OS software developers have already formed an alliance to jointly participate in tenders to supply schools with open-source software.